ETHAN — Taziah Hawkins has made a seamless transition into her role as an Ethan Rustler.

After her sophomore season, the Ethan senior transferred from rival Hanson, joining the Rustlers after years of facing them as an opponent. However, coach Tom Young said Hawkins has fit seamlessly into the Rustler program.

“She just fits right into our chemistry and culture,” Young said. “She is obviously a good offensive player. But every single day she brings it in practice. Her leadership has been so incredible, and all the seniors, but Taziah has jumped right in there with them and it’s like she’s been a Rustler all her life.” 

Hawkins transferred to Ethan after helping Hanson reach the Class A state girls basketball tournament in 2024. She played AAU basketball with a few of the Ethan girls basketball players, and that helped with her transition into her new role.

“I played summer basketball with a lot of the girls,” Hawkins said. “So it was just very, very easy to jump right in and just have fun with it.”

In her two Ethan seasons, the Rustlers are 35-6 and are currently ranked No. 4 in the latest Class B South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll. The Rustlers are averaging 62 points per game, have multiple 3-point shooters and drilled 14 3-pointers in a recent win over Bennett County at the Corn Palace. 

“We like to have a lot of fun,” Hawkins said. “It’s just easy basketball. We all want to play for each other. We don’t care who scores baskets and we just want to do whatever we can to win.”

A 5-foot-6 guard, Hawkins has been a key player for the Rustlers in her two years. She ignites Ethan’s offensive attack, pushes the ball in transition, is a knockdown 3-point shooter and scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season. 

Ethan's Taziah Hawkins attacks the basket against Parkston's Berkley Ziebart on Feb. 16 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)
  

Young said her biggest attributes are her unselfishness, her willingness to do what’s best for the team and her love for the game. 

“She plays and practices with a lot of joy,” Young said. “She’s so encouraging to everybody on the team. Her personality is just vibrant and so I have had a lot of fun.”

Hawkins comes from a basketball family, with her mom, grandfather and grandmother all leaving their marks on the South Dakota basketball scene. Taziah’s mother, Jenny Bridge, was the 2003 South Dakota Miss Basketball and was inducted into the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025. 

Taziah’s grandfather, Jim Bridge, retired in 2024 as the all-time winningest coach in South Dakota girls basketball history. Bridge and Young coached against each other, with Young mindful of the grandfather-granddaughter relationship.

“In my mind, I am not really her coach,” Young said. “Her grandpa, that’s who her real coach is  and I am just enjoying getting to know her and challenge her on a daily basis to bring her best.” 

Taziah’s grandmother, Julie Bridge, was inducted into the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. 

Hawkins was coached by Bridge, who finished with 629 career wins, at Hanson and was part of his final season as coach. She’s transitioned to Young, who is a state champion boys and girls basketball coach. 

Hawkins doesn’t take it for granted that she’s been coached by two icons.  

“I feel like the luckiest person in the state,” Hawkins said. “You never see someone getting coached by their grandpa and then getting coached by another amazing coach.”

Hawkins will play college basketball at NAIA Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. She pointed to the coaching staff and the team’s style of play for picking the Mustangs. 

“They like to shoot a lot of threes,” Hawkins said. “I like to shoot a lot of threes. The culture seems amazing. I went for a game and the coach said their freshman class is very fun. I got to talk to them for a little bit. It just seemed like the place that I needed to be.”

Up next, Hawkins and the Rustlers will gear up for the postseason. The Rustlers (18-2) are winners of 13 of their past 14 games, including back-to-back wins over No. 5 Bennett County (76-48) and No. 2 Parkston (41-31).